The Marine and Coastal Access Bill is currently (April 2009) making progress in the House of Lords on its way to taking affect and becoming Law in the summer of 2009.
This significant legislation will create an entirely new planning regime for the marine areas of the UK, with a Marine Management Organisation producing marine plans setting out how the marine areas should be managed in accordance with principles of sustainable development.
One element of the marine plans will be the creation of Marine Conservation Zones to protect rare and threatened species and habitats.
The new regime is likely to affect all those operating commercially in the marine area, in particular all of whom will be covered by new licensing regimes.
The bill also provides for a continuous long distance footpath around the coasts of the UK, to include wider areas of access on beaches and cliff tops. These new coastal access provisions will be significant not only to intended users for the coastal recreation but also to those land owners whose land will be affected by the new provisions.
Stephen Scown is tracking the MCAB and its progress onto the statute book and is well placed to advise on all elements of the new legislation.
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